Iowa recently had its first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in several months, and the state’s ag secretary says biosecurity remains a top priority.
Mike Naig tells Brownfield HPAI cases have been minimal in the state this fall.
“We’re always vigilant and prepared within the industry,” he said. “I know our producers are working incredibly hard to maintain the top-notch biosecurity. What we’re talking about here is keeping wild birds away from your domestic birds.”
He says most confirmations of the disease have occurred in the Eastern Corn Belt.
“My heart goes out to our friends in Indiana and places east,” Naig said. “We had seen the Dakotas and Minnesota (affected), and now it’s trickling east it seems. I don’t know if that’s where the birds are flying just because of the weather patterns if they’ve shifted that way.”
Northern Indiana is leading the nation in new avian influenza cases with more than half a million birds depopulated since the beginning of October.
Naig says he’s hopeful the current cold snap will help decrease the amount of new cases.
“We need to start seeing some cold, nasty weather and start to see some water get frozen over up in Minnesota and the Dakotas,” he said. “That really starts to push those migratory birds south.”
Iowa’s most recent avian influenza case involved a commercial turkey flock in Hamilton County. It was the state’s ninth detection of the disease within domestic birds in 2025.
